Pipe racking device



June 36, 1931.

H. N. MARSH PIPE BACKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 22. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l N. MARSH VENTOR ORNE) June 30, 1931. H. N. MARSH PIPE RACKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 22, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HALLAWMARSH NTOR June 30, 1931. H. N. MARSH PIPE BACKING DEVICE Filed Nov. 22, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HALLAN N. MARSH p fl ENTOR a I 6 Q}, 4 ,w.

A TT RNEY Patented June 30, 1931 PATENT OFFICE HALLAN N. MARSH, F HUNTINGTON PARK, CALIFORNIA PIPE BACKING DEVICE Application filed November 22, 1930. Serial No. 497,580.

The object of my invention is to provide a power-actuated means for racking drill pipe within a derrick, that is to say, for moving the lower end of each stand of pipe from its originalposition over the casing head to a desired position in the corner of the derrick as the stand is unscrewed from the string. The same device may-be used for running in, each stand being then moved from its position in the corner of the derrick to exact register with the pipe already in the hole.

My device may best be understood on inspection of the attached drawings and the following description thereof, in which Fig. 1 is an isometric projection of the assembled apparatus in a preferred form in which fluid actuated pistons operating in cylinders are utilized;

Fig. :2 is a detail of one of the operating cylinders, in longitudinal section;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the central valve, in vertical section;

' Figs. 4: and 5 and 6 are diagrams of the bottom plate of the central valve, in place; Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating the functioning of the fluid cylinders;

Fig. 9 is a detail of a preferred form of pipe hook, in plan, and

Fig. 10 is a detail of the hook in vertical section.

Referring first to Fig. 1, 10 is the usual rotary table, 11 a spider, 12 the upper end of a string of drill pipe resting in the spider, 13 the lower end of a stand of drill pipe, broken away at 14 but assumed to be suspended from the crown block by means of an elevator not shown. It may be 'assumed for purposes of illustration that the drill pipe is being run out and that the suspended stand has just been broken from the string and slightly raised.

15 is a pipe hook shown in detail in Figs. 9 and 10 or any other form of hook or clamp which may be preferred. Any means for releasably encircling or grasping the pipe will answer the purpose of my invention.

16a and 16?) arepiston rods attached to pistons shown in Fig. 2, one of these rods being rigidly attached to clamp 15 and the other swivellin g thereon. These pistons work inside cylinders 17a and 17 b which are supported from any convenient derrick member, as for instance a head board 18, by the ball and socket joints 19a and 19b. The outer ends of the rods are attached to the pipe hook as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Each of the cylinders has an opening at each end as at 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d, and each of these openings communicates by means of a flexible conductor 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d with a corresponding opening or port in the cen- 80 tral valve 23 which is detailed in Figs. 3 and 4. This valve is also provided with an inlet pipe 24 communicating with any source of steam (or other fluid) under pressure and with an exhaust pipe 25.

The outer ends of the cylinders are supported by light chains or cables 26a26b running over idler sheaves 27a and,27b to counterweights 28a-28b. These sheaves should offer a certain amount of frictional resistance, so that when the pipe hook is raised or lowered by hand, thus moving the cylinders up or down. it will remain in the position in which it is placed or should be slightly heavier than needed to balance the cylinders, and means provided for limiting the upward movement of the cylinders at a substantially horizontal position. If preferred, a closed coil spring may be inserted in each of the cables 26a26b and the counterweights and sheaves dispensed with, the length of the cable being so adjusted that the normal position of the cylinder is substantially horizontal.

Referring now to Fig. 2, 17 is either one of the cylinders 17a or 17?) of Fig. 1. This cylinder may be flanged at each end. To the inner or left end as shown is flanged a head 29 on which is formed a ball 30 which makes part of the ball and socket joint 19. Inside this head is formed a. socket 31 in which is placed a still coil spring 32 which acts as a butter for the piston.

T 0 the outer or. right end of the cylinder is bolted ahead 33 having a stuffing box 34 and a gland 35 for packing the piston rod.

A piston 36 is placed within the cylinder and provided with split rings 37 or other suitable packing. To this piston is attached the piston rod 38 which passes through the stufiing box 34 and terminates in the halfyoke 39 as further described in connection with Figs. 9 and 10. A stiii coil spring 40 is placed around the rod at this end to act as a butler for the piston.

The ports 21a and 210 should be formed on the lower sideof the-cylinder in order that it may freeitself of any condensate'that is, if steam, air or gas is the actuating medium. If the pistons are actuated by a liquid this is not essential. -I1ito these ports are fitted the conducting pipes or tubes 22a and 220 as'shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the control valve 23 may consist'of'a bottom plate 41, a slidingdisc 42 actuated by a universal operat ing handle 43,a' body 44, a cap 45 and a. packing gland 46.

The bottom plate is provided with a flange 47 having the bolt holes 48 by means of which the assembly is rigidly fastened to any convenient support in such manner that the upper end 0 hand of the operator. The upper surface of the plate is faced true and smooth and the late is provided with four drilled ancltapped holes 49a, 49b, 49c and 49d (to which conductors 22:1,226, 220 and 2203 are respectively connected) and 50 (to which exhaust pipe 25 is connected).

On this bottom plate, which acts as a valve seat, rides the disc 42 which has a recess 51. in its lower side and a tapering socket 52 in its u per side. The socket engages the lower end 0? the operating handle 43 by which the disc is-moved over the valve seat into any desired osition. A fiuid inlet'53 is provided in the oody at any convenient point. Suitable packing 55 is inserted in the packing box to prevent the escape of actuating fluid from the body, this packing bearing on a ball 56 through which the handle 43 passes.

Fi s. 4, 5 and 6 show the preferred relation between the width of the lowerface of the disc (indicated by the shaded band 57) and the diameter and spacing of the ports 49 and 50, the circle 54 indicating the inner circumference of the body 44 at the point where it joins the bottom late.

The handle 43 being free, by reason of the ball joint 55-56, to move in any direction, the lower face 57 of the disc 42 may be placed in any desired position on the seat formed by the upper face of the bottom plate 41. It will be evident that there are three extreme positions for the disc on the seat, to-witz. the central position shownin Fig. 4; a position against the wall of the body on the center line of two opposite ports, as shown in Fig. 5, and a position against the wall on a line intermediate two adjacent ports as shown in Fig. 6. All other possible positions of the disc on the seat are either reversals or in-- termcdiates of two of these extreme positions. With the disc in the position shown in Fig.

the handle is convenient to theto the en 4 all the ports are closed and no fluid is passing through the valve, the handle being then in an uprighttposition.

On moving 1e upper end of the handle in the direction indicated by arrow 58 in Fig. 5 the disc is moved into the position shown in that figure. in which port 49?) is open and admitting fluid to one end of one of the cylinders, ort 49d is open and in communication with ex austport 50 through the recess 51 permitting escape of fluid from the opposite end of the same cylinder, and ports 4.90. and 490 are closed.

By moving the upper end of the handle in the direction indicated by the arrow 59 in Fig. 6 the disc is moved into the position shown in that ii ure, in which ports 49c and 49d are open and admittin fluid into an end of each of the two cylinders 17 a and 175 while the op osite ends of these cylinders are exhausting t rough ports 49a and 4% into port 50.

Fi n 7 is a diagram-illustratin the extentand c iaractcr of the movement w ichoinay be imparted to the pipe hook 15 by controllably admitting a fluid into one or-the other end of either 0 linder and thus moving the piston d of its stroke. In this diagram the ball and socket joints 19a-19b are so spacedthat when both istons 36a and 366 are completely retracte the cylinders 17a and 17?) stand at a 90 an le. In this piston position the swivelling pin 60 of the ipe .ook 15 (see Fig. 8) is in the position If now both pistons be moved to the outer end of their stroke the pin 60 will be advanced on a line perpendicular to the line A-A, to position 0.

If piston 366 be completely retracted while piston 36a remains extended pin 60 will move along the arc (ll) to the position D. There is, of course, a corresponding position E which may be reached by reversing the above movement.

The pin 60, and with it the pipe book 15 and the lower end of the pipe stand, may therefore be laced anywhere within the fi ure bounded y the arcs B-D, D-C, C- and E-B. By placing the joints 19a and 19b closer together the area of this figure ma be increased slightly as to the depth 13- and materially as to the length D-E. By reducing the angle ABA to 45 and by placing the point Ad in a. corner of the derrick a placement figure similarto that indicated by D- -B-GHC-D in Fig. 8 may be produced, in which the line A2-H in a line parallel to the edge of the derrick floor. The position of this or any other fi ure on the actual floor of a derrick would o governed by the length of the cylinders and the piston stroke.

Referring again to Fig. 4 and also to Fig. 7, if in setting the valve 23 in permanent position the bottom plate be so oriented that. the

mime:

line J--K of Fig. 4 is arallel to the base line Al -A2 of Fig. 7 an the pipes 22 of Fig. 1 are connected into the orts 49 of Fig. 4 in the order given in that gurethat is to say, pipe 22a to port 19a, etc., then the movement imparted to )lIl (i0 and the lower end of pipe stand l-l will be in the direction in which t ie operating handle 4-3 of the valve is moved.

For exam no, if the upper end of the haudle be lll0VB( toward J on the line J-K, the disc will be moved in the opposlte direction or toward K, ports 49c and 496 will be 0 wood to exhaust and ports 49d and 49a will be opened to fluid pressure. The cylinders bein connected to these ports as just described eyinder 17?) receives fluid at its outer end and the piston moves inwardly while cylinder 17a receives fluid at its inner end the notch moves outwardly. The pin 60 which is the point of junction of the two iston rods is therebymoved in the genera direction in which the hand grip of the handle 48 is dislaced, a movement which may or may not )0 in a straight line according as one or the other of the intake ports is to the greater extent uncovered by a simultaneous displacement of the handle to right or left.

Again, if the hand gr: 1 is moved toward L on the,line L--M of ig. 4 the disc is moved in the opposite direction or toward M, port 4% is opened to pressure and 49?) to exhaust, pressure is admitted to the outer end of cylinder 17b and the piston is thus moved inwardly, the iston in cylinder 17a remains stationary as oth its corresponding ports 49c and 49a remain closed, and the pin 60 moves toward Al in an are described around the point Aa, and in the general direction in which the hand grip is moved.

In using this device, for instance in running out, the string would be lifted until a stand runs out of the hole, the string lowered into the spider and the stand broken away and unscrewcd in the usual manner. The stand would then be lifted a short distance, hanging from the blocks over the casing head.

The gate of the )ipe hook would then be opened and the hook advanced by admitting fluid into the left end of one or both cylinders until it partly encircles the pi e, the gate then being closed. ()rdinarily tlie cylimlors would be of such length and so placed that the pipe hook would come substantially over the casing head when both of the pistons are entirely extended.

Fluid is then admitted to the left end of the cylinder nearest the pipe rack and the pipe thus moved outwardly into a position parallel to the position in which it is to be placed in the rack and fluid is then admitted into the left end of the further cylinder to move the pipe inwardly to its final position. In practice these two movements would be a practically simultaneous and accomplished by so movinp the valve handle as to open two Wits simu taneously to varying extent.

ith practice the operator can so control the movement of the pistons as to impart to the upper end of the stand the kick which swings the up or end of the pipe around the end of the anger board.

While I do not restrict myself to any particular form for the pipe hook 15 I prefer to use the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10 in which: 60 is a swivel pin and 6.1 a nut retaining it in place, 62 is a half collar having a rib 63 which is projected tangentially at one side to form a lo (S4 in which )iston rod 16a is rigidly fixe (i5 is a block rigidly fixed to the end. of piston rod 166 and swivelling on the in 60.

secon half collar 60 has a rib 67 and carries a yoke 68 which swivels on a in (59 passing through a lug 70 on half col ar 62. he opposite ends of half collars (l2 and 68 have mating lugs 71 and 72, a pin 73 passes through In P 71 and retains on end each of two straps #4, the opposite ends of which are retained by a pin 75 which passes through a hand eccentric 70. On releasing this eccentric it may be swung on the straps to clear the end of lug 72, after which the gate (52 may be swung open on the pin 69. Any preferred form of ipe hook or clamp may be used if desired, iiut it is desirable that one of the piston rod ends he ri idly inserted into a med portion of the hoo to prevent the entire hook swivelling on the pin 60.

As said, steam, air or a liquid may be used to actuate the pistons in the cyl indors. Steam and air flow at higher velocities than liquid and can be made to impart a snappicr motion to the pipe clamp, but both have the drawback that, heing compressible, the piston is not positively locked in a fixed position when both orts are closed. Steam has the further draw ack that it will rapidly contract by condensation, leaving the piston entirely free to move. A liquid actuated piston, while more sluggish, is positively locked in the position which it assumes when either of the valves leading to its cylinder is closed.

I claim as my invention:

l. A device for racking pipe in a derrick, comprising: a pair of cylim are, the inner end of each said cylinder bring swingingly attached to a suitable portion of said derrick; pistons working within said cylinders; rods attached to said pistons and passing through the outer ends of said cylinders; a ipe hook: an attachment of the outer end orcach said rod to said hook, and means for controllably admitting an actuating fluid into either end of each said cylinder.

2. A device for racking pipe in a derrick, comprising: a pair of lmigitudinally extensible members, the inner end of each said mombcr being swingingly attached to a suitable portion of said derrick; a pipe hook; an attachment of the outerend of each said-member to-said hook, and means for controllably extending and retracting each said member.

3. A device for racking pipe in a derrick, comprising: a pair of cylinders, the inner end of each said cylinder being swingingly attached to a suitable portion of said derrick; means for swingingly supporting the outer ends of said cylinders and for returning said cylinders to a substantially horizontal position; pistons working within said cylinders; rods attached to said pistons and passing through the outer ends of said cylinders; a pipe hook; an attachment of the outer end of each said rod to said hook, and means for controllably admitting an actuating fluid into either end of each said cylinder.

4. A device for racking pipe in a derrick, comprising: a pair of longitudinally extensible members, the inner end of each said memher being sWingingly-attached to a suitable "pipe hook; an attachment ortion of said derrick; means for swingingy supporting said members in a substantially horizontal position; a pipe hook; an attachment of the outer end of each said member to said hook, and means for controllably extending and retracting each said member.

5. A device for racking pipe in a derrick, comprising: a pair of cylinders, the inner end of each said cylinder being attached to a. suitable portion of said derrick by a ball and socket joint; pistons working within said cylinders; rods attached to said pistons and passing through the outer ends of said cylinders; a pipe hook; an attachment of the outer end of each said rod to said hook, and means for controllably admitting an actuating fluid into either end of each said cylinder.

6. A device for racking pipe in a derrick, comprising: a pair of cylinders, the inner end of each said cylinder being swingingly attached to a suitable portion of said derrick; pistons working within said cylinders; rods attached to said pistons andpassing through the outer ends of said cylinders; a of the outer end of each said rod to said hook, the attachment of one of said rods to said hook being rigid and the attachment of the other of said rods being pivotal, and means for controllably admitting an actuating fluid into either end of each said cylinder.

7. A device for racking pipein a derrick, comprising: a pair of longitudinally extensible members, the inner end. of each said member being swingingly atac-hed to a suitable portion of said derrick; a pipe hook; an

attachment of the outer end of each said member to said hook, the attachment of one of said members to said book being rigid and means for controllably admitting an actuating fluid into either end of each said cylinder.

9. In a device substantially as and for the purpose set forth in claim 8: valve means adapted to admit actuating-fluid into either end of either cylinder and to simultaneously open an exhaust channel communicating with the opposite end of said cylinder.

10. In a device substantially as and for the purpose set forth in claim 8: valve means comprising: a plate having four fluid inlet ports and an exhaust port; a housing over said plate; means for admitting fluid under pressure into said housing; a cupped disc rlding on said plate, said disc being adapted to uncover one or two of said inlet ports and to simultaneously place the opposite of said inlet ports in communication with said exhaust port,and an operating rod passing through said housing for moving said disc on said plate. I

11. In a device substantially as and for the purpose set forth in claim 8: valve means comprising: a platehaving four fluid inlet ports and an exhaust port; a housing over said plate; means for admitting fluid under pressure into said housing; a cupped disc riding on said plate, said'disc being adapted to uncover one or two of said inlet ports and to simultaneously place the opposite of said inlet ports in communication with said exhaust port, and an operating rod passing through said housing for moving said disc on said plate, said inlet ports being so oriented and connected to the ends of said cylinders that a movement of the outer end of said operating rod in any direction produces a movement of the pipe hook in substantially the same direction.

In witness that I claim the foregoin l have hereunto subscribed my name this 1 th day of November, 1930. HALLAN N. MARSH.

the attachment of the other of said members being pivotal, and means for controllably extending and retracting each said member.

8. A device for racking pipe in a derrick, comprising a pair of cylinders, the inner end 

